Method of extracting metals from ore by electricity.



PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

E. L. PRIEST. METHOD OF EXTRAGTING METALS FROM ORE BY ELECTRICITY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

EDIVARD L. PRIEST, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,885, dated March14, 1905.

Application filed April 5, 1904. Serial No- 201,631.

To all whrmt it may concern:

. the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to methods of ore extracting by electricity inwhich the electric currentis closed through the ore and a liquid body bythe contact of the two and the formation of an intervening are, fusingthe ore.

The difiiculty heretofore has been to properly complete the electriccurrent through orebodies when the latter are used in any considerablequantity to make the process commercially available.

My invention has for its object the utilization of these methods withore in any quantity; and to this end my invention consists in the novelprocess or method which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

In order to illustrate my method, I refer to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 represents a means for carrying out my method in whichthe ore to be fused is prepared and associatad with an electricconductor in one way. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ore preparedand associated with the conductor in another shape, but involving thesame idea. In this figure the arcregulator is omitted. Fig. 3 is asimilar view illustrating a third way of the same idea.

I prepare the ore by first comminuting it by any suitable means andadding to it or utilizing, if already present, any binding agent whichwill enable it to remain in or' to be pressed into a coherent mass. Insome cases water will serve as such agent, or flour or many other pastyor gummy materials may be used. With this coherent comminuted ore mass Iassociate by incorporation or otherwise, so as to be reduced therewith,aconductor of electricity, which passes through or permeates the mass orotherwise lies in intimate contact with it. This conductor in its bestform is carbon in any shape, such as coke or prepared carbon, whichserves the further purpose of a heating medium. The association of thisconsumable conductor with the comminuted ore mass may be done in variousways. For example, in Fig. 1 I show the ore mass A as having theconductorB passing through its axis. In Fig. 2 I show the conductor Bencircling the ore mass A, and in Fig. 3 I show the conductor Bincorporated throughout the ore mass A. These will serve to illustratemany forms of association, all of which are rendered possible andpracticable by the previous reduction of the ore to a comminutedcoherent mass.

In the several figures C is a tank containing a body of liquid,(represented by I),) which liquid may be of any suitable conductingcharacter, such as acidulated or salted water. With this liquid, as bymeans of the zinc plate (Z or otherwise, one of the wires, (Z, of theelectric circuit is connected. The other wire, (Z is connected with theconductor B of Figs. 1 and 2 and with a through-wire (Z in Fig. 3, whichwire forms a connection for all the conductor material of that form ofore presentation. There the prepared-ore masses touch the water, thecurrent is completed through them, and as the arc is established theconductor is consumed, while the ore is reduced and drops into thewater. The carbon conductors, as before stated, serve also to heat theore.

These ore masses, with their consumable con-.

ductors, may be prepared in any suitable manner, sizes, and numbers, anda plurality of them may be connected in multiple arc. By such initialpreparation of the ore the electric current is completed through themand large quantities may be handled with practicability. The metalcannot volatilize as it is precipitated into the water, which alsopurifies the metal, divesting it of sulfur, the latter formingsulfureted hydrogen, which passes off.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new, and desire tosecureby Letters Patent, is

1. The method of extracting metals from ores by electricity, consistingin forming a body of comminuted ore into a coherent mass, associating anelectric conductor with the same, and positioning the mass with itsconductor in contact with a liquid electrode and reducible comminutedcoherent ore mass, second, connectlng with said mass a consumableelectric conductor, and third, contacting said 5 body With a liquidelectrode, thereby creating an electric arc therebetween to reduce saidbody and consume sa d conductor.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD L. PRIEST. Witnesses:

WALTER F. VANE, D. B. RICHARDS.

